Pipe coating

ABSTRACT

A method of coating a pipe and a pipe coated thereby, said method comprising the steps of progressively spirally winding a corrosion protective adhesive coated plastic tape onto the outer surface of the pipe with a spiral overlap, covering the coated pipe by progressively winding a film thereon with a predetermined overlap, and, as the film is wound onto the coated pipe, introducing and distributing under pressure a hot melted adhesive into intimate contact with the surface of the marginal portion of the trailing edge of the film and the surfaces of the overlapped portion along the leading edge thereof and of the portion of the tape immediately adjacent the leading edge of the film.

United States Patent [191 Hielema Apr. 1, 1975 [54] PIPE COATING ggggfil 2e 623311.], ,7 enne 4 [751 Invent: F' Lwls 3,033,724 5/1962 Stokes]. 156/162 x Ontario, Canada 3,163,]82 l2/l964 Sandow et al.. l38/l44 Assignee: The Kendall p y g Gustafson [22] Filed: 1974 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Queisser [2|] Appl. No.: 431,249 Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich Related U 8 Application Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fetherstonhaugh & Co. [60] Continuation of Ser. No. 243,705, April [3, I972,

abandoned, which is a division of Ser. No. 54,489, [57] ABSTRACT J I I3, 1970, P t. N 3,700,520. 3

u y a O A method of coating a pipe and a pipe coated thereby, [30] Foreign Applicafion Priority Data sald method comprislng the steps of progressively spl- A 16 1970 Canada 0802, rally winding a corrosion protective adhesive coated plastic tape onto the outer surface of the pipe with a spiral overlap, covering the coated pipe by progres- [fi] 138/144, l38/l54. sively winding a film thereon with a predetermined E 5 i DIG I overlap, and, as the film is wound onto the coated 0 138/144 1 pipe, introducing and distributing under pressure a hot melted adhesive into intimate contact with the surface of the marginal portion of the trailing edge of the film [56] Referemes cued and the surfaces of the overlapped portion along the UNITED STATES PATENTS leadjpg edge thereof and of the portion of the tape im- 2,550,52O 4/195! Bennett 16l/l45 X mediately adjacent the leading edge of the film. 2,815,043 12/1957 Klciner et al. 138/150 X 2.937.665 5/l960 Kennedy l38/l54 X 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures y l8'\ I6 24 22 I6 26 PIPE COATING This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 243.705. filed Apr. l3. I972, now abandoned. which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 54,489. filed July I3. 1970, which issued as US. Pat. No. 3,700,520 on Oct. 24, i972.

This invention relates to the protective coating of pipes.

ln particular. the invention is concerned with the method of coating a pipe with a first layer of corrosion protective plastic pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and a second layer of a sheet material providing mechanical protection of the tape wherein the tape and sheet are bonded together by a hot, melted thermoplastic adhesive.

lt is well known to apply a corrosion protective coat ing and a mechanical protective coating to a metal pipe and to apply these coatings in the form of adhesive tapes which are wound onto the pipe in an overlapping relationship by rotating the pipe in conventional pipe wrapping machines. Thermoplastic tapes which have a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one surface are fre quently used to form the corrosion resistant inner layer and thermoplastic tapes having a pressure sensitive adhesive have also been used to form the outer mechanical protective layer. The relatively high cost of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated thermoplastic tape is a very significant factor in the cost of producing coated pipe with the result that the industry has been searching for less expensive alternatives. One of the most common alternatives is to employ a paper sheet as the outer mechanical protective coating. The paper sheet is wound onto the pipe in the usual manner by spirally wrapping the sheet over the tape-covered pipe with the marginal portions of adjacent spiral convolutions of the sheet overlapping one another. In some systems. the spiral convolutions of the paper sheet are adhesively connected to each other in the area of the overlap. While the paper sheet overwrap is considerably cheaper than the thermoplastic tape overwrap, it provides only mechanical protection ofthe underlying cor rosion protective tape primarily during the handling of the pipe prior to and during burial of the pipe.

A difficulty with the use of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape as an overwrap lies in the fact that the bond formed by the pressure-sensitive adhesive is not permanent in that it can be peeled back in the area of the overlap by the substantial axial forces which may be applied to an underground pipe when it is being located in its operative position. Frequently, underground pipes are forcibly driven into the ground in an axial direction and. ifthe exposed side edges ofthat protective tape are driven into the ground. there is a tendency for the tape to peel back in the area of the overlap. During the installation of a pipe, the operators can not reasonably be expected to examine each section of pipe to ensure that it is laid down in the correct direction. This problem is a direct result of the fact that the pressuresensitive adhesives which are presently in use in the pipe coating industry do not provide a sufficiently strong bond between the overlapping portions of the tape overwrap.

A factor which contributes to the high cost of the pressure-sensitive adhesive coated tapes as the outer wrap is the fact that the entire undersurface ofthe tape is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Tapes with a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on a marginal portion along one edge of the backing have been proposed but have not found acceptance because of problems in producing the tape and problems presented by the irregular diameter of supply rolls of such tape.

Another disadvantage of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes as an outer wrap is the incomplete contact of the adhesive to the underlying corrosion protective tape in the region immediately adjacent the overlapped edge of the previous spiral convolution of the outer wrap tape. Gaps between the surface of the adhesive in the marginal portions of the trailing edge of a spirally wound convolution immediately adjacent the overlapped edge of the preceeding convolution and the back surface of the corrosion protective wrap immediately thereunder have been found to occur. Thus. there is an interrupted or incomplete adhesive contact in the region where peel back is most likely to occur.

The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art described above by providing a method of coating a pipe which is less expensive than prior methods in which a pressure-sensitive adhesive thermoplastic tape has been used and which also provides a mechanically more durable bond than that achieved by the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of protectively coating a pipe by means of a coating which provides greater weather resistance and mechanical protection than the paper tape coating previously described.

According to the present invention, a method of coating a pipe comprises the steps of coating a pipe by progressively spirally winding a corrosion protective adhesive coated plastic tape onto the outer surface thereof with a marginal overlap. A mechanical protective film or tape is then applied to cover the coated pipe by progressively winding a film of mechanical protective plastic sheet material tape onto the coated pipe with a predetermined overlap. As it is wound onto the coated pipe. at mass ofthe hot melted adhesive is introduced and distributed under pressure into intimate contact with the surface of the marginal portion of the trailing edge of the film and the surfaces of the overlapped portion along the leading edge thereof and of the portion of the tape immediately adjacent the leading edge of the film. The hot melted thermoplastic adhesive mass may be applied to the marginal portion of either the leading or trailing edge of the mechanical protective film just prior to the overlapping step. Alternatively, the adhesive mass may be applied simultaneously to both marginal portions by introducing it at the nip between consecutive spiral convolutions of the film. In all cases. the mass is positioned to extend laterally to both sides of the leading edge of the film. The film is applied under tension and the film applies pressure to the hot melted adhesive which forces it to fill the space between and into intimate, bonding contact with the surface of the marginal portion of the trailing edge and the underlying surfaces of the corrosive protective tape and the leading edge of the film.

The thermoplastic adhesive is selected to be compatible with the corrosion protective tape and the mechanical protective film. The hot mass may be applied in the shape of a bead. ribbon or other continuous or discontinuous shapes.

The invention will be more clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic side view of a pipe being coated according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is across sectional view of a portion of a pipe showing the manner in which the tapes are wound onto the pipe; and

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a pipe showing the manner in which the overlap is formed.

In the drawings, the reference numeral It) refers generally to a metal pipe of the type which is commonly protected against corrosion and mechanical damage by a protective coating. The pipe is mounted for rotation in a conventional pipe coating machine. the direction of travel of the pipe during the wrapping operation being from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. A bottom layer of corrosion protective pressure sensitive adhesive tape [2 is sprially wound onto the pipe 10, with the adhesive layer in direct contact with the pipe. The pipe is rotated in the direction of the arrow A, as shown in FIG. 2, and tape 12 is spirally wound onto the pipe Ill. The trailing edge of each convolution or wrap of the tape overlaps the leading edge of the previous convolution, as shown in broken lines at M in FIG. I. The tape 12 preferably is one which will conform readily to the contour of the pipe to protect the pipe against corrosion. A satisfactory tape is one having polyethylene film backing measuring six mils in thickness and a pressurescnsitive adhesive layer on one side thereof measuring two mils in thickness.

The reference numeral 16 refers generally to a mechanical protective film which is spirally wound onto the pipe 10 over the tape wrapping I2. It is wound with a predetermined overlap, the trailing edge of each preceding convolution or wrap of the film overlapping the leading edge of the preceding convolution, with a predetermined overlap, as indicated in broken lines at IS in FIG. I. The overlap I8 formed by the outer wrap film [6 is preferably longitudinally spaced from the overlapped leading edge [4 formed by the inner tape 12, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

A hot melt extruder generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 is mounted in a position to discharge a head (It ribbon 22 of hot melted thermoplastic material onto a marginal edge portion 24 of the inner surface of the trailing edge ofthe film If). The head of hot melted thermoplastic material 22 is applied to the man ginal edge portion 24 just prior to the nip where the film 16 forms the overlap 18. The discharging hot molten thermoplastic material is sufficiently hot to bond to the surface of the marginal edge portion 24 of the film 16 and the underlying portion of the leading edge of the film I6 and an underlying portion of the tape 12 adja cent thereto to structurally unite these portions. When the tape [2. film If: and the bead 22 are made from polyethylene, the extruded head 22 is preferably extruded at a temperature in the range 5()(lF to 6()(lF. The extruder 20 may be a conventional thermoplastic cxtruder suitably adapted to discharge hot melted plastic adhesive onto the film 16, as described above.

The bond formed between the various covering members is more clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the draw ings. The convolutions or wraps of the inner corrosion protection adhesive tape I2 on the pipe overlap one an other, as shown at 14 in FIG. 3, to form a continuous inner protective coating. This coating is protected by a spirally overwrapped mechanically protective film 16, the trailing edge overlapping the leading edge of a pre- (ill ceding wrap, as shown at I8 and previously explained. The marginal edge portion 26 ofthe leading edge of the film [6 which is overlapped by the trailing edge is shown to have a width y. The trailing marginal edge portion 24 of the film 16 is shown to have a width ,t' which is greater in width than the portion r by an amount 1. The plastic adhesive material extends at least the full width .r of the marginal edge 24 and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the space between the inner surface of the marginal portion 24 and the sur faces which it overlies. namely the surface of the mar ginal portion 26 of the film 16 and the immediately adjacent surface of the tape [2. A shape of the thermoplastic adhesive matcrial is illustrated in the crossscctional view of FIG. 3. As shown there, the adhesive has a thickness in the region immediately adjacent the end surface of the leading edge of the film 16 thicker than any other portion thereof. The thickness ofthe adhesive in this region is equal to the thickness of the film I6 and the thickness of the adhesive layer sandwiched between the marginal portion 26 of the leading edge of the film and the overlapping portion in the width y of the trailing edge of the film 16. The adhesive is of decreasing thickness in regions away from the end surface of the leading edge across the width The adhesivev mass is forced into assuming this shape and into filling this space by the pressure applied to the head 22 from the film 16 which is wrapped onto the pipe under a wrapping tension to give a snug and tight fit over the coated pipe. The bond formed by the thermoplastic material thus joins adjacent wraps of the film 16 and also joins the film If) to the tape 12.

A saving in the cost of the adhesive is achieved by limiting the material to which the adhesive is applied to the marginal edge portion 24 which has a width The width of the film 16 may vary substantially and films measuring from 2 inches to l8 inches in width are presently used. Where a two-inch wide is used, the width .r may be in the range of one-quarter to one-half inch, or approximately I25 to 25)? of the tape width. and, where an eighteen-inch wide film is in use. the width may be in the range of one-half inch or approximately 2.78 to 8.33% of the tape width to one and one-half inches. This would provide a saving in adhesive mate' rial of from approximately 75 to 97% over that previously used when pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes were used for coating pipe. When the tapes are made from a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, the hot melt which forms the head 22 may also be made from polyethylene, which is substantially less expensive than the conventional pressuresensitive adhesives as presently in use.

It will be understood that the film 16 and backing for the tape 12 may be made from any of the well known plastic materials which are used in this industry such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrilc butadiene styrene or polypropylene. A suitable film 16 which forms the outer mechanical protective coating may be made from high density polyethylene measuring from It] to 25 mil in thickness.

1 claim:

I. A protective coated pipe comprising:

a. a conduit;

b. a corrosion protective inner adhesive coated plas tic tape progressively wound onto and adhesively secured to the entire outer surface of said conduit and having a marginal overlap at each adjacent turn;

. a mechanical protective film of plastic material d. means for bonding said subsequent lap directly to said corrosion protective tape in said wedgeshaped region and to said earlier lap in the area of said marginal overlap: and

(il l c. said bonding means including a hot melt thermoplastic adhesive compatihle with said tape and film, said hot melt adhesive substantially being applied to the region of said marginal edge portion only in sufficient quantity and width to form a unitary fused mass between said overlapping portions of said mechanical protective film and between said subsequent lap and said underlying corrosion protective tape.

2. The coated pipe of claim I wherein said bonding means l'ills said wedge-shaped region such that it conforms to the wedgc'shape and decreases in thickness from adjacent the leading edge of the earlier lap of said mechanical protective film, and said bonding means is thicker throughout a substantial portion of the wedgeshaped region than in the area of the overlapping earlier and subsequent laps, 

1. A PROTECTIVE COATED PIPE COMPRISING: A. A CONDUIT; B. A CORROSION PROTECTIVE INNER ADHESIVE COATED PLASTIC TAPE PROGESSIVELY WOUND ONTO AND ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE ENTIRE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CONDUIT AND HAVING A MARGINAL OVERLAP AT EACH ADJACENT TURN; C. A MECHANICAL PROTECTIVE FILM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL PROGRESSIVELY WOUND WITH A PREDETERMINED WRAPPING TENSION OVER SAID CORROSION PROTECTIVE TAPE WITH A TRAILING MARGINAL EDGE PORTION OF A SUBSEQUENT LAP OVERLAPPING A PORTION OF THE LEADING EDGE OF AN EARLIER LAP, TO FORM A MARGINAL OVERLAP WHEREBY A WEDGE-SHAPED REGION IS FORMED LYING BETWEEN THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CORROSION PROTECTIVE TAPE AND A PORTION OF SAID SUBSEQUENT LAP OF SAID MECHANICAL PROTECTIVE FILM, SAID WEDGE-SHAPED REGION BEING SPACED AXIALLY AHEAD OF SAID LEADING EDGE OF SAID EARLIER MECHANICAL PROTECTIVE FILM LAP; D. MEANS FOR BONDING SAID SUBSEQUENT LAP DIRECTLY TO SAID CORROSION PROTECTIVE TAPE IN SAID WEDGE-SHAPED REGION AND TO SAID EARLIER LAP IN THE AREA OF SAID MARGINAL OVERLAP; AND E. SAID BONDING MEANS INCLUDING A HOT MELT THERMOPLASTIC ADHESIVE COMPATIBLE WITH SAID TAPE AND FILM, SAID HOT MELT ADHESIVE SUBSTANTIALLY BEING APPLIED TO THE REGION OF SAID MARGINAL EDGE PORTION ONLY IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY AND WIDTH TO FORM A UNITARY FUSED MASS BETWEEN SAID OVERLAPPING PORTIONS OF SAID MECHANICAL PROTECTIVE FILM AND BETWEEN SAID SUBSEQUENT LAP AND SAID UNDERLYING CORROSION PROTECTIVE TAPE.
 2. The coated pipe of claim 1 wherein said bonding means fills said wedge-shaped region such that it conforms to the wedge-shape and decreases in thickness from adjacent the leading edge of the earlier lap of said mechanical protective film, and said bonding means is thicker throughout a substantial portion of the wedge-shaped region than in the area of the overlapping earlier and subsequent laps. 